November 11, 2020–8:37 a.m.
NEWS RELEASE
Jewelry and outer space collide in a unique special exhibition on view at Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, GA. Out of this World! Jewelry in the Space Age which opened Saturday, November 7, 2020. One of the most iconic pieces in the exhibit is BjörnWeckström’s “Princess Leia Necklace.” One of the award-winning jewelry designer’s pieces was chosen for Carrie Fisher to wear in the final scene of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Weckström created an identical piece that is on loan to the museum, courtesy of collector Anthony Rubano.
The exhibit is co-curated by Tellus Curatorial Director Amy Gramsey and ASJRA (The Association for the Study of Jewelry and Related Arts)Co-Director Elyse Zorn Karlinand features more than 200 pieces. Covering a variety of space-related themes through the context of materials and design, the exhibit includes vintage memorabilia and art objects relating to space. Sputnik, Halley’s Comet, Moon, star, and planet-themed jewelry are also featured, with abundant examples in both fine and costume jewelry. Jewelry with space motifs from the Georgian period through today is on display, as well as jewelry made from materials that come from outer space, such as tektites, meteorites, pallasites, and moldavites.
Out of this World!also showcases jewelry flown in space by astronaut Cady Coleman. Coleman has flown in two space missions, which includes spending 159 days on the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 27.
Other flown in space items include a collection from Beads of Courage, an organization dedicated to providing programs and support for children coping with serious, life-threatening illnesses. Beads of Courage commissions bead artists to create encouraging mementos for children who are fighting cancer. The beads represent taking hold of the courage one has and moving forward to face the unknown. The beads have been flown on several shuttle missions.
Other highlights of the exhibit include a lunar landing pendant from the Van Cleef&ArpelsCollection, which commemorates the first walk on the Moon. Guests can see a unique watch, made especially for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, that displays Mars time. Also on display are antique and vintage pieces from the Tiffany &Company Archives.
Gramsey states, “This is one of the most unique exhibits we’ve had on display at Tellus. I have a personal affinity for science fiction, so I am naturally drawn to some of the pieces and memorabilia that are represented in this collection. As a colored stone gemologist, this has been a great opportunity for me to work with rare and vintage pieces from the Van Cleef&Arpels Collection and the Tiffany and Company Archives.”
The exhibit kicks off with a virtual opening on the museum’s Facebook page on Friday, November 6, 2020, at 6 PM. Co-curator Elyse Zorn Karlin will discuss some of the pieces in the collection and her ongoing pursuit of space jewelry. Out of this World! Jewelry in the Space Age will be on exhibit at Tellus Science Museum through October 24, 2021. The exhibit is free with museum admission.
Tellus Science Museum is a program of Georgia Museums, Inc., which includes Booth Western Art Museum, Savoy Automobile Museum, and Bartow History Museum. the Smithsonian Affiliates a 120,000 square foot science museum located in Cartersville, just north of Atlanta. For more information about Tellus Science Museum call (770) 606-5700 or visit www.tellusmuseum.org or www.facebook.com/tellusmuseum.